Mt Blanc

[thalbergmad]

When i started this thread i was hoping for some sensible advice from someone that has done a bit of climbing.

Using all of your adivce, i would never get to the top coz i would have a 5 ton backpack and more Sherpas than Mallory had.

I am not going to Everest, i am not going to solo El Capitan or drag a 300 pound sledge to the South Pole.

Mt Blanc was climbed in the 1780's by people who had white stockings, hobnail boots and a flask of brandy.

Now, why don't you continue your solo rantings in the Juilliard thread.

Bye

Thal

[pianistimo]

they were SWISS thal.  SWISS.  btw, the flask of brandy probably isn't a bad idea.  add that to the list.

ok.  so far we have:

polypropylane underwear (the kind that's like long johns)
one piece down suit (not sure where you find these - perhaps a converted sleeping bag)
nylon coat
outer coat with hood (and possibly fur around hood that folds out and gives you 1" of view space
combo gloves and mittens
walking stick
kumba cough pills
russian titanium oxygen tanks (about 4 or 6 or depending on the amount you need
inflatable snowshoes
inflatable showboard
rations
candy bars
candy bars
candy bars
picture of old girlfriend
heavy book to use for dried flowers
last will and testament
wool socks
couple of sticks of chapstick
daggar - pocket knife (not sure what for)
compass or gps
cell phone?
goggles
map?
hmm.  that's about it.

oh.  brandy.  almost forgot.  water bottle?

[thalbergmad]

Go and irritate someone else.

Inflatable doll?

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Inflatable doll?

Yeah, an inflatable goat would be wise. Will distract the rabid ibex.

[mad_max2024]

The injectable eyeliner may also help there

[thalbergmad]

The most important thing of all she mentions as an afterthought.

The first thing you take is water bottle.

She is mental.

Thal

[berrt]

When i started this thread i was hoping for some sensible advice from someone that has done a bit of climbing.

Stay in flat-land, i do that always (ok, as far as possible). No silly mountains standing in the way, walking is so much more comfortable. And you can see who will come to visit you next week.

Berrt

[pianowolfi]

Stay in flat-land

Are you sure you don't mean "middle land" ?

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8991.0.html

 

(bit off topic, but this is really worth to listen to before starting a trip to Mont Blanc)

[thalbergmad]

Nice one wolfi.

Today is my only day of indulgance, tomorrow the training starts.

Got me new boots and hiking sticks, so i will be out wearing them in. Off to the Cheviots in Feb to get some more legwork in then St Kilda in May with elspeth.

I will prove pianistimo wrong if its the last thing i do (and it could be that).

Thal

[pianowolfi]

You are a good example to me, Thal. I'll try to get on my bike tomorrow.

[thalbergmad]

Indeed wolfi, i will pump up my tyres tomorrow.

BTW, Evans end of year sale.

https://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5904

Tempting

Thal

[pianowolfi]

Cool indeed but i prefer Campagnolo parts

[thalbergmad]

Almost half price Wolfi

https://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5904

[pianistimo]

https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.jerberyd.com/climbing/stories/montblnc/climbers.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.jerberyd.com/climbing/stories/montblanc/&h=154&w=281&sz=30&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=tuVGlz0Ze4q14M:&tbnh=62&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dclimbing%2Bmt%2Bblanc%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG[/img]

[thalbergmad]

wow, how did they manage it without Russian Titanium Oxygen tanks.

Thal

[pianistimo]

well, the one guy got snow blindness at the top anwyays.  had to be led by hand the entire way back down.  let this be a lesson to the 'tie them on' routine.  i say - make sure the sunglasses are tied on. 

and, they had to throw themselves horizontally across those deep crevasses.  you think it's a day in tahiti.  what if the weather changes and you are forced to camp out in a tent - and the crampons start shredding the tent from the floor up - because of the gusty winds.  and for lacking have thought to brought rubber nipples to cover those metal things so they wouldn't do this.  (yes, i have been reading about everest climbs)

say- did you know two climbers are missing in china.  they've been missing for awhile.  did anyone find them.  what happened to them?  (don't worry thal,  it usually doesn't happen to novices - only hard core climbers that get careless).  or perhaps, they had a death wish.  they wanted to die.  freezing is the most comfortable way to die - i hear.  i wouldn't know - because i had to thaw out the several times i almost froze.  of course, everyone says - 'keep walking.'  try that when your feet are blocks of ice. 

[mad_max2024]

what if the weather changes and you are forced to camp out in a tent - and the crampons start shredding the tent from the floor up - because of the gusty winds. and for lacking have thought to brought rubber nipples to cover those metal things so they wouldn't do this. (yes, i have been reading about everest climbs)

I'm not exactly sure what a rubber nipple is, but if I had to climb a mountain, I would love to have one... or two...

[thalbergmad]

and the crampons start shredding the tent from the floor up - because of the gusty winds.  and for lacking have thought to brought rubber nipples to cover those metal things so they wouldn't do this.  (yes, i have been reading about everest climbs)

Generally, it is easier to take them off.

Thal

[pianistimo]

well, as i understand it - by the time you get to the last site - you just fall intot he tent.  you have no finger mobility.  basically your hands and feet are useless.  but, then, with global warming - and being in july - maybe everything will be fine.  just wondering about the 'sugared snow' on slabs of granite.  sounds like a fast trip to the bottom.  what good are crampons.  what you need is a hoist from 574 feet to the top. 

maybe i'm reading too much, but one person said it was hard to then go back down - hold onto granite and then sandstone.  basically they were sanding their hands on the way down (finer and finer).  perhaps lots of those little cottony gloves?

[thalbergmad]

maybe i'm reading too much,

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